Torque insensitive header assembly

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides example methods, devices and systems associated with a torque-insensitive header assembly. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a sensor, from an aperture defined by a shell, an environmental condition, wherein the sensor is coupled to a header and the header is coupled to the shell such that the sensor is isolated from a torque stress applied to the shell; measuring, by the sensor, the environmental condition to determine an environmental condition signal; and outputting, from the sensor, the environmental condition signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/595,057, filed Aug. 27, 2012, which is a continuation claiming priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/010,837, filed Jan. 21, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,495, issued Oct. 16, 2002, which is a continuation application to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/387,548, filed May 4, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,069, issued Feb. 1, 2011, all of which are entitled “TORQUE INSENSITIVE HEADER ASSEMBLY,” and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth below.

Furthermore, this Application is generally related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/077,637, filed Mar. 19, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,248, issued Jul. 14, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/825,089, filed Jul. 3, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,317, issued Feb. 16, 2010, all of which are entitled “HIGH PRESSURE TRANSDUCER HAVING AN H-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION,” all of which are assigned to Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc., the assignee herein, and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth below.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to sensors and more particularly to a torque-insensitive header assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

If one refers to the above-noted co-pending applications cited under related applications, one will ascertain that there are disclosed high pressure transducers which basically have an “H” shaped cross section. As indicated in the co-pending applications, these devices can operate at pressures in excess of sixty thousand pounds per square inch (60,000 psi). Thus, as one can ascertain, the pressures are extremely high. The applications, as indicated above, disclose a transducer having an “H” shaped cross section. Essentially, the diaphragm is thick in order to obtain high pressure operation. In any event, the above noted applications describe such a diaphragm which has a step or flange portion, which essentially surrounds the active a diaphragm area. Thus, the active area is smaller than the active area of prior art devices. By including the step resulting in a smaller diameter active area, one can now obtain negative stresses at the edges of the diaphragm. This enables a full Wheatstone bridge configuration to be employed. As one can ascertain from the above noted applications, most high pressure sensing headers employ front faced sealing. Such techniques utilize a crush ring or a metal to metal seal. In any event, the force to make this seal is applied by installing a threaded element behind a header. The header and seal are then placed in compression. Based on experimental data, there is a high zero shift and a torque sensitivity when employing this installation technique. The finite element analysis indicates that the face sealing header is placed in compression, which in turn compresses or pinches the outer periphery of the thick sensing diaphragm in the “H” section. This pinch causes radial strain in the diaphragm and affects the linearity and zero shift of the pressure sensor. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a header assembly which is insensitive to installation torque. The header assembly, as will be described, is insensitive to the mounting torque and therefore enables high pressure sensing headers to be utilized in a reliable and efficient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pressure transducer assembly, comprising: a diaphragm member having an “H” shaped cross section with a central diaphragm area having two upper extending arms and two lower extending arms forming an “H” shaped cross section, an outer cylindrical shell surrounding said “H” shaped diaphragm member, said shell secured to said diaphragm member, said shell having a top surface with an aperture communicating with said central diaphragm area of said member, said shell positioned to enclose said diaphragm member operating to absorb installation torque applied to said assembly during installation whereby said diaphragm member receives a relatively insignificant installation torque.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art “H” shaped diaphragm which employs face sealing.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art transducer utilizing the diaphragm of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an improved torque insensitive header assembly according to this invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph depicting test data of a torque insensitive unit as compared to a torque sensitive unit without employing this invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a transducer assembly which employs a torque isolation shell according to this invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of a transducer fabricated according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a cross-sectional view of a prior art “H” shaped transducer. FIG. 1 essentially corresponds to FIG. 3 of the co-pending applications designated as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/077,637 and Ser. No. 11/825,089. Thus, there is shown in FIG. 1 the “H” shaped transducer as indicated in the above noted applications. The transducer configuration 19 includes a step or flange portion 21 which essentially surrounds the active area or diaphragm area 24. Thus, the active area 24 is smaller than the active area of prior art devices. By including the step 21 and the smaller diameter active area 24, one now obtains negative stresses at the edges of the diaphragm area 24. Thus, the step section 21 enables negative stresses to be provided at the periphery of the diaphragm area 24. By measuring the strain, one can obtain an electrical output proportional to the high pressures experienced by the diaphragm. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, sensors which are piezoresistive gauges are positioned on the diaphragm 24 as sensors 30, 31, 32 and 33. The sensors are arranged into a full Wheatstone bridge which therefore increases the output and accuracy. Thus, there are two gauges as 30 and 31 which are positioned about the center of the active area 24 and on the gauge side 23. Gauges 30 and 31 are both positive operating strain gauges. Overlying the step portion 21, which surrounds the active area 24, are gauges 32 and 33. These gauges are negative strain gauges. Thus, gauges 30, 31, 32 and 33 are wired as a conventional Wheatstone bridge to enable one to obtain greater output as well as greater accuracy. The full Wheatstone bridge on the transducer responds to pressures up to sixty thousand pounds per square inch (60,000 psi) with a large and accurate output.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a typical transducer utilizing the “H” shaped cross-sectional unit of FIG. 1. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, the transducer configuration which is the “H” shaped transducer 19 is welded to the front end of a pressure sensor. The front end of the pressure sensor or pressure transducer has a passageway 52 which allows wires from the gauges on the section 19 to be directed. There is also a threaded portion 53 which mates with a sealing housing section 54. The housing section 54 is coupled to a body 56 or shell which has an internal hollow 55 where compensation/electronics are positioned. There is shown a connector 57 as well. Thus, the device as depicted in FIG. 2 is mounted as follows: an aperture is provided into which a threaded section 53 is directed. The aperture is also threaded and the “H” section 19 is then inserted in the aperture while the device is placed in position by means of the thread 53. There would be a compression ring which would co-act with the front edge of the “H” section header and abuts against the bottom of the aperture to enable a tight seal to be formed between the face of the header 24 and the wall of the aperture. The crush ring or a metal to metal is provided the installing the threaded element 53 behind the sealing header 54. In this manner, a tight seal is provided to prevent leakage. The force required to mate the seal is supplied by installing the threaded element 53 behind the header section as 19. Thus, the header and seal are placed in compression. Experimental data indicates a high zero shift in torque sensitivity which results from this installation technique. The analysis indicates that the face sealing header 19 is placed in compression, which in turn compresses or pinches the outer periphery of the thick sensing diaphragm 24 in the “H” section 19. This pinch causes radial strain in the diaphragm 24 and affects the linearity and zero shift of the pressure sensor.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a “H” shaped header 61 and a torque isolating outer shell 60. As seen in FIG. 3, there is shown an isolation shell 60. The shell 60 essentially is of a “C” shaped cross section and has extending arms 72 and 73. The shell has a sealing surface 67, which surface will be pressed against the wall into which the header will be placed, as will be shown and explained. Essentially, the shell contains an aperture 69 which allows media passage and contains a counterbore 68 which will accommodate a crush ring so that when the unit is placed on a surface or wall, a crush ring which is situated in aperture or depression 68 is forced against the wall in which the transducer is inserted and forms a tight metal seal. Essentially, the media passage aperture 69 communicates with aperture 65 which is the top aperture in the “H” shaped header 61. The “H” shaped header has thick diaphragm 74, the underside of the diaphragm has secured or fixed thereto strain gauges as 63, which strain gauges are conventionally formed in a Wheatstone bridge array. Essentially, the header, which is “H” shaped, has top arms 75 and 76, which are shorter than the bottom extending arms 78 and 77. As one can see, the “H” shaped header has a peripheral flange 70 which encircles the top portion of the header. The peripheral flange 70 has a peripheral face 62 which will be welded to the main transducer body. Thus, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the torque isolation shell 60 surrounds and encloses the “H” shaped header 61. The walls 73 and 72 of the isolation shell have their ends welded to the peripheral flange 70 associated with the “H” shaped header 61. As one can ascertain, there is a space 71 between the surfaces of the “H” shaped header and the top portion. In this manner, the torque isolation shell 60 encloses the pressure sensing “H” shaped diaphragm member 61 while isolating the section 71 from the installation stresses caused by the face sealing feature. As seen in FIG. 3, the outer shell 60 consists of a cylindrical wall which encloses the “H” section unit 61. The surface 67 of the shell 60 has a counterbore 68 which will enclose a crush ring. The outer shell 60 acts as a bypass element for the compressive load. The passage 69 through the center allows the sense media to reach the “H” section diaphragm 74. Thus, as one can ascertain upon installation, only the crush ring, which is positioned in counterbore 68 and the outer shell 60 experiences compression. There is no installation load on the interior “H” section 61. Accordingly, the installation torque will compress the outer section 60 and the crush ring, and the crush ring forming the high pressure metal to metal seal. The interior “H” section 61 only experiences stress due to pressure which is directed to the diaphragm via the inlet 69. Thus, the unit which is the “H” shaped configuration 61 will not be affected by the installation torque.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the torque versus the change in zero shift of the new units as depicted in FIG. 3 by curves 92 and 93 as compared to prior art units as shown as curves 90 and 91. The prior art units, being the unit depicted in FIG. 2. It is seen that the “H” shaped section shown in FIG. 3 also contains the step concentric flange or rim which essentially is depicted in the above noted co-pending applications and which step portions surrounds the active area of the diaphragm 74. The step of course functions as described in the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown the composite structure depicted in FIG. 3 consisting of the outer torque isolating shell 60 which is welded at its ends to the “H” section header portion 61. The ends of the “H” section header, such as surfaces 62 are welded to a main body 80, which has a threaded portion 84. The main body has a central aperture 81 which accommodates leads and also accommodates the extending pins 64. There is a hex shaped section 82, which hex shaped section enables placement with a wrench. Extending from section 82 is a hollowed area which contains the circuit board 83, which is contiguous with a cable release section 86 and cable 85. Thus, the entire transducer, which contains the isolation shell 60 and the “H” shaped header 61 is secured to the body 80, which body 80 is threaded by means of a thread portion 84. In this manner, the hex portion 82 is accommodated by suitable wrench, where the entire transducer unit is now placed in a threaded aperture via the threads 84. The aperture communicates with a force transmitting media which essentially passes through the diaphragm 74 of the “H” section via passageway 69. The same reference numerals have been employed in FIG. 5 to designate corresponding parts as used in FIG. 4. Thus, as shown, because of the isolation shell 60, the “H” shaped header 61 experiences no installation load and therefore will only experience stress due to pressure as directed through aperture 69 and not in any manner be affected by the installation torque. As seen in FIG. 4, zero shift is negligible in units which have the header configuration depicted in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a typical installation. In FIG. 6, numeral 101 depicts a wall which may be the wall of a combustion engine and so on. The wall has formed therein an aperture 102 which is threaded, and which also has an inlet aperture 106 to allow pressure to enter. The pressure environment 110 may be oil pressure or some other pressure. In any event, the entire transducer assembly as depicted in FIG. 5, is inserted into the aperture 102. It is inserted into the aperture 102 by the thread 84 co-acting with the thread of the aperture and by turning or exerting a torque on the installation hex portion 82 via a tool such as a wrench. As seen by the arrow, the entire unit is rotated by means of the hex wrench or other device so that it is screwed into the aperture 102. The counterbore 68 contains a crush ring 100. As the unit is turned and therefore proceeds to enter the aperture 102, the crush ring 100 is pushed against the inner face of the wall; thus, allowing the passageway 106 to communicate with the passageway 69 in the transducer assembly. The torque isolation shell 60 bears the force imparted as the crush ring 100 is pushed against the wall associated with the aperture 106. Thus, the majority of the torque is experienced by the shell 60 and there is virtually no torque transmitted to the “H” section header 61. As shown in FIG. 6, only the crush ring 100 and the outer shell 60 experience compression; thus, there is no installation load on section 61. The shell 60 is separated from the header 61 by the space 71 and only the flange 70 experiences torque. The crush ring and the outer section form the high pressure metal to metal seal. The wall 101 is conventionally a metal wall and the entire body of the transducer including the isolation shell, the header and so on are also fabricated from metal. Thus, there is described a torque insensitive header assembly which may be utilized in conjunction with high pressure measurements using “H” shaped devices having relatively thick diaphragms. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that there are many alternative embodiments which may be discerned from the Figures and descriptions given above and all of which are deemed to be encompassed within the spirit and the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a sensor, from an aperture defined by a shell, an environmental condition, wherein the sensor is disposed at a header and the header is coupled to the shell such that the sensor is isolated from a torque stress applied to the shell; measuring, by the sensor, the environmental condition to determine an environmental condition signal; and outputting, from the sensor, the environmental condition signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: positioning the shell at an opening having side walls and a back wall; and applying a torque stress to the shell to couple the shell to the side walls of the opening such that a seal is formed between a front surface of the shell and the back wall of the opening.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a back portion of the header is coupled to a back portion of the shell.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed at a front portion of the header.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aperture is proximate a front side of the sensor.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a sensor array.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor array is a Wheatstone Bridge.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is pressure.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is temperature.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the shell is disposed around a front portion of the header.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the front portion of the header is isolated from the shell.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein a cavity is disposed between the shell and the front portion of the header.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the shell defines a counterbore that surrounds the first aperture.
 14. The method of claim 2, wherein the shell defines a counterbore that surrounds the first aperture and the counterbore is adapted to accommodate a ring.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the ring is adapted to absorb torque stress.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the ring is adapted to create a seal between a front surface of the shell and a back wall of the opening.
 17. A sensor assembly by a process, comprising: providing a shell having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion of the shell defines a first aperture and the back portion of the shell defines a second aperture; providing a header having a front portion and a back portion, wherein a sensor is disposed at the front portion of the header; positioning the header in the second aperture of the shell such that the a front portion of the sensor is proximate the first aperture; and securing the back portion of the header to the back portion of the shell such that the sensor is isolated from a torque stress applied to the shell.
 18. The sensor assembly by the process of claim 17, wherein the shell includes a counterbore that surrounds the first aperture.
 19. The sensor assembly by the process of claim 18, further comprising: positioning a ring in the counterbore.
 20. The sensor assembly by the process of claim 17, wherein securing the back portion of the header to the back portion of the shell includes: welding the back portion of the header to the back portion of the shell. 